FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
PROCEDURES AND ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS
The Western Australian Freedom of Information Act 1992 gives you the right to apply for access to documents held by the Medical Board. For further advice or information regarding FOI applications you can visit the Office of the Information Commissioner website www.foi.wa.gov.au.
The Board will assist in providing access to documents at the lowest reasonable cost.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION APPLICATIONS
Access applications have to -
- be in writing;
- give enough information so that the documents requested can be identified;
- give an Australian address to which notices can be sent; and
- be lodged with application fee payable.
Applications and enquiries should be addressed to the Freedom of Information Coordinator, PO Box 1437, SUBIACO, WA, 6904.
Applications will be acknowledged in writing and you will be notified of the decision within 45 days.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CHARGES
A scale of fees and charges set under the FOI Act Regulations. Apart from the application fee for non-personal information (information that is not personal information about the applicant) all charges are discretionary. The fees and charges are as follows.
| Personal information about the applicant |
No fee and no charges |
| Application fee (for non-personal information) |
$30.00 |
Charge for time dealing with the application
(per hour, or pro rata) |
$30.00 |
Access time supervised by staff
(per hour, or pro rata) |
$30.00 |
Photocopying staff time
(per hour, or pro rata) |
$30.00 |
Per photocopy
|
$0.20 |
Transcribing from tape, film or computer
(per hour, or pro rata) |
$30.00 |
| Duplicating a tape, film or computer information |
Actual Cost |
| Delivery, packaging and postage |
Actual Cost |
Deposits
| Advance deposit may be required in respect of the estimated charges |
25% |
| Further advance deposit may be required to meet the charges for dealing with the application. |
75% |
If these charges are likely to exceed $25, the Board will provide you with an estimate of charges and ask whether you want to proceed with the application.
For impecunious applicants or those issued with prescribed pensioner concession cards, the charge payable is reduced by 25%.
ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS
Access to documents can be granted by way of inspection, a copy of a document, a copy of an audio or video tape, a computer disk, a transcript of a recorded, shorthand or encoded document from which words can be reproduced.
NOTICE OF DECISION
As soon as possible but in any case within 45 days you will be provided with a notice of decision which will include details such as -
- the date which the decision was made
- the name and the designation of the officer who made the decision
- if access is refused, the reasons for claiming the document is exempt
- information on the rights of review and the procedures to be followed to exercise those rights.
Refusal of Access
Applicants who are dissatisfied with a decision of the agency are entitled to ask for an internal review by the agency. Application should be made in writing within 30 days of receiving the notice of decision.
You will be notified of the outcome of the review within 15 days.
If you disagree with the result you then can apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review. An application for external review should be made within 60 days of receiving notice of the internal review decision.
